Yes, but Narathiwat is in the deep 'south' where the troubles have been brewing for years now with the Muslim insurgency.
Me thinks it's more a combination of Thailand not being 'new' to many travelers with over 12 million visitors per year, the continuing political instability in Bangkok, and the growing upcoming global recession/ depression. People are worried about their economic situation and wondering when the other shoe's going to fall.
I said I'd never return to Bangkok after my first visit. If i was scammed or ripped off, I wasn't aware of it. I was simply overwelmed by such a busy city. (Loved the other parts of Thailand I visited)
Last year I returned to Bangkok and I loved it! Arriving the end of next week and can't wait. I think Thailand has a lot of interesting places to visit and discover, so I'm one visitor number who, if possible. plans to make a lot of return visits :)
.................................
http://asiadana.com/</a>
Working on the assumption that anecdotal evidence trumps mere conjecture, I'd like to offer this insight. One mate from my office went to Thailand last Wednesday to visit Koh Samui and his girlfriend's village in Lampang. Another guy is going tonight to spend a week in Hua Hin. I'll be going in November to buy furniture for my baan in Bangkok. Nobody I know has cancelled a visit to Thailand for any of the reasons mentioned in the other posts.
I think it's mainly the rise in fuel prices that are putting people off. Then the political problems.
Tourist numbers are down 27- 33% compared to last year.
Thailand will recover.
One thing though, whatever make some of you think Cambodia is cheaper than Thailand? I very much doubt it's cheaper for a tourist and it's definitely not cheaper for an expat.
Phnom Penh is definitely cheaper than Bangkok. You can't get a half decent aircon hotel room with fridge and cable, elevator, etc, for $12 in Bangkok like you can in Phnom Penh.
Callippo is right, accommodation is cheaper in the lower end, so are cigarettes and alcohol.
But in typical tourist areas street food, fruit, shoes& clothes, bags and other traveling needs and especially transportation are more costly.
If you live here you notice quickly that you'd spend more here than in Thailand. I have a Thai girl friend, she's constantly comparing prices. It starts with electricity and water, petrol, vegetables and meat in a local market and ends with cosmetics& hygiene products and electronic goods (not hand phones though). And regarding choice and quality, I'd say Thailand beats Cambodia hands down.
And while there might be some double- pricing in Thailand, here it seems to be institutionalised.
On the other hand it's much less regulated. That seems to keep quite a few expats here.
